Trades Alberta: Immigrant finds new career with NorQuest’s apprenticeship prep program

Plumbing apprentice Khalid Lahroudi works with a pipe groover at Arpi’s North in Edmonton on Nov. 21, 2012. The immigrant from Morocco is a graduate of NorQuest College’s apprenticeship preparation program.

Photograph by: Jason Franson
, Edmonton Journal

EDMONTON - When Khalid Lahroudi immigrated to Canada in 2007 he found work as a cook, the same job he had in Morocco.

The 33-year-old worked in the industry for two years before deciding he wanted to try something new. The opportunity for a career change came when Lahroudi’s wife told him about a new program at NorQuest College, where she was studying English.

“Someone at NorQuest told her about a new trades program for aboriginal and immigrant students and she told me about it,” Lahroudi said.

The program was NorQuest College’s apprenticeship preparation pilot program, launched in January 2012 in partnership with the Alberta Pipe Trades College. Lahroudi applied and was accepted into the program with 19 other students.

The program starts with four months of classroom work at NorQuest, where students focus on science, math, reading skills, computer literacy and workplace culture. This training helps students prepare to challenge the apprenticeship entrance exam, which Lahroudi wrote and passed in April.

Students then enter a 10-week training session at the Alberta Pipe Trades College, an Edmonton facility built and operated by the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 488. Students not interested in pipe trades (including welding, plumbing, steam-fitting and pipefitting) complete a work placement in their chosen field.

Lahroudi said he chose plumbing because the trade is creative and will help him be self-employed one day. Plumbers plan, install and service plumbing systems, fixtures, piping equipment and controls.

“Taking a trade is not only about working right now, it’s also about my future. I don’t want to be working for people all my life, I want to have my own business,” he said.

Despite a more than 12-year hiatus from the classroom, Lahroudi said he enjoyed his time back in school. He’s now apprenticing for the Edmonton firm Arpi’s North.

“It’s going well. I like it and they treat me well,” he said.

Elaine McPhee, chair of literacy and essential skills at NorQuest College, said the institution has offered apprenticeship preparation programs for about 25 years. This latest partnership with the Alberta Pipe Trades College has been the “most successful model yet.”

“The reason for that is that students are going on to the Pipe Trades College to have hands-on experience and have the chance to try out the trade, gain skills, and then get help to transition into the workforce,” McPhee said. “It’s a unique collaboration, because students get their blue books (in which they document their hours) right away because they’re going into union jobs. It’s an assured thing.”

Chris Waples, assistant department head at the Alberta Pipe Trades College, is also pleased with the partnership.

“Between the two institutions, it’s worked very well in getting these students a head start into the pipe trades to be a successful and productive part of the workforce,” Waples said.

The apprenticeship preparation program is for aboriginal and immigrant students, including people who have never been exposed to the trades.

“High school kids can go into their welding shop or carpentry shop to gain this skill set, but these are adults who haven’t had those opportunities,” McPhee said. “They’re coming to us with very little or no experience in the trade they’re interested in getting into.”

Waples said the students entering the program have all shown a strong commitment to their studies and future careers.

“They are more than willing and more than capable of putting all of their efforts forth and doing all their studies. They tend to be very good students,” he said.

Students get help finding a job in the pipe trades, as well as plenty of support to transition into the workforce.

“They feel confident and prepared to be in the job without having fear of not knowing what to do, because we can prepare them with different aspects of the trades before they get on the job site,” Waples said.

Of the 15 students who challenged and passed the apprenticeship entrance exam in April 2012, 14 are employed in their chosen trade.

Twenty-one students entered the program in September 2012 and challenged the apprenticeship entrance exam in December. The program’s next intake of students will be in September 2013, McPhee said.

Program graduate Lahroudi said he felt very prepared when he entered the trade and he’s now focused on what’s ahead.

“I’m looking forward to being a journeyman in plumbing, and I hope to own my own business,” he said.

Plumbing apprentice Khalid Lahroudi works with a pipe groover at Arpi’s North in Edmonton on Nov. 21, 2012. The immigrant from Morocco is a graduate of NorQuest College’s apprenticeship preparation program.

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